Census: North Carolina Now 9th Largest State

Newly released U.S. Census population estimates show North Carolina continues to rank among the nation's fastest growing states.

North Carolina has overtaken Michigan to become the nation's ninth-largest state, adding more than 95,000 new residents between July 2013 and July 2014. That pushed the state's total estimated population to just shy of 10 million.

In a press release issued by Governor Pat McCrory's office, the governor cited job creation, lower taxes and the state's quality of life as some of the reasons for North Carolina's growth.

North Carolina State University economics professor Michael Walden said the new numbers bear out the decades-long trend of high growth in Sun Belt states benefiting from northern retirees seeking warmer temperatures and businesses seeking a less-unionized workforce and weaker government regulation.